Monday, 27 August 2007

My friend paused by with his family. His two children, Jonathan and Joan, have been to the angel-clay sessions and have enjoyed themselves. While the adults chatted, they explored the shop and was soon intrigued by the special paper punchers.

What amazed me was how quickly Jonathan thought about making a banner with a string of bears as soon as he punched the first one and was drawing in the details. And in no time at all, he created this proto-type. Notice how he has given different eyes to each bear. I am amazed and amused.

Joan, his younger sister in Primary 1, also made a lovely little card for me. Her dad and I share the same birthday and she was so sweet to make this card especially for me.

These kids are such delights.

I have been working hard at getting more publicity for Pauseability. Don't seem to be making much headway. Did have a pleasant surprise when my friend told me that Pauseability has been featured on CityPatrol. Thanks CityPatrol Officers! Check it out!

For the rest of you who are reading this blog, here's my desperate plea: pass the word around about Pauseability to 10 people in the next week. Ahem, and if you have yet to find time to pause by, you deserve to reward yourself with a trip. Hee!

Tuesday, 21 August 2007

A professor asked her class, "Why do people shout at each other when they are angry?" The class discussed and a number of answers were offered but none that the professor was satisfied with.

Finally, the professor said, "When people are angry with each other, their hearts are far apart. That's why they shout. But strangely, the more they shout, the further their hearts get, and the louder they go."

The class was intrigued, and the professor went on. "On the other hand, when 2 people are in love, their hearts are very close to each other. That's why they whisper sweet nothings to each other. Sometimes, they needn't even use words but let their eyes do the talking."

How true. So, the next time you are angry and knows that your hearts are far apart, let things cool down and when you know that your hearts have become closer once more, that would be the time to speak.

Yet another inspiring story from last Sunday's Chinese newspapers.

And the picture shows one of the latest artist trading card "Sew in Love". Have you made yours yet? Do keep a date with me on 13 Sep at 7 pm for our first atc trading session at Pauseability.

Friday, 17 August 2007

These buttons are such visual and tactile delights. They came to me in a crumpy plastic bag, mixed with 2 rusted screws, bits of dust and thread and that faint smell of sewing machine oil.

I enjoyed sorting them, taking in the colours and then cleaning them. Those that came in a huge lot, I strung them up. Felt a little like I was wasting my time, so I set a time-limit to get it all done. Overshot the time but I really was having a good time. Finally, I laid them all out, took a good look and snapped some photos.

I bought these from a shop that is closing down. The old couple that ran the shop has decided to call it quits. When they heard that I have decided to venture into business, they kindly chided me and wondered aloud why I would choose such a path.

It has been 3 months since setting up shop. Pauseability has been around for a quarter of a year just at the blink of an eye. If you ask me how business is, I presume that you are asking if I am having brisk business and making money. Honestly, I am not. It is still far too quiet as far as the cash register is concerned.

Yet, things have in fact been anything but quiet. The number of things I have been able to do and the variety of people I have had the chance to interact with have been beyond my wildest imagination. Looking through my Flickr and I can only say that God has been tremendously good to me. Transforming an empty shell of a shop into a cosy space, setting up an exhbition about my childhood days and having people turn up, and making numerous handcrafts that surprises me how nice they look. Talking to the old man who takes his walk wearing his baseball cap, seeing the neighbouring hairstylist meticulously create his handmade gift for his girlfriend, meeting someone else who remembers Yippee! magazine, and enjoying the company of my friends who pause by with their wonderful children. The list could goes on and on.

There continues to be those moments when a stretch of days go by with no one pausing by, and it does make the sense of hope of business picking up seem suddenly so hollow. Dipping into my savings and watching the amount dwindle is no thrill either. And I wonder if my patience will ever outlast the indefinite wait. Doubts peck at my confidence and I sigh.

At those moments, it does seem just like the old couple who sold me the buttons have said, what a silly (or as I would say foolhardy) choice that I have made.

BUT i am having TONs of COLOUR that God has so graciously added to this part of my life. For this I am delighted and it makes the tough parts worth it. (Can't help the lame play of words ... haha!)

Saturday, 11 August 2007

Photos from Flickr are picked up up based on the lyrics of a song and then these images are put together into a music video. Each time you load, you get a different set of photos. Each image is taken by just about anyone at all in the world. Beautiful.

And as the photos stack up, you still get to move them and click on them to see who took them and what else is in that Flickr album. Wow!

Tonight, I am looking forward to a wonderful event - the iConcert which showcases the original compositions and performances from the youths in my church. A CD will also be launched called Spirit Flux. Amazing.

I am excited about the next new project at Pauseability - Artist Trading Cards trading sessions. Artist Trading Cards or ATC are miniature art 2.5" by 3.5" that has gained some popularity among artists and hobbyists. Any medium can be used, from painting, photography to collage. Only that the size must be 2.5" by 3.5".

I first came across ATC earlier this year. When I met Richard through the 70's exhibition and he showed me the beautiful ATCs he has created, I decided to start trading sessions. Imagine how exciting it will be to have different people bring their little spot of creativity and sharing this with each other.

Richard's collage ATCs are first-class works. I have made my own humble attempt and this bird ATC you see above is my freehand drawing.

And taking about birds, just today I came across the Little Bird project that started in Germany. The online gallery is just such a treat to look at. You can get a poster for which a big part of the profits go to UNICEF. Go take a look and perhaps it might inspire you with your first ATC project.

ATC Trading Sessions will be on the 2nd Thursday of every month starting 13 September from 7 to 9 pm. Be there!

Monday, 6 August 2007

Daddy was going for a reunion the next day and bought himself a new pair of pants. However, it was 10 cm too long. So, he decided to ask someone at home to alter it. He first asked Granny who said that she was too tired to do so. When he asked Mummy, she said she has too much work to do it. Finally when he asked Daughter, she was on her way to a dance and could not possibly spare the time.

Daddy could understand and decided that he should just wear an old pair of pants to the reunion.

Later that day, Granny felt bad to have turned down her son. He has been such a good son after all. So, she shortened the pants for him. Mummy finished her work and she too felt that she could at least helped her lovely husband and she shortened the pants by 10 cm too. When Daughter came home from her dance, she also decided that she should helped Daddy out and she altered the pants by 10 cm as well.

So, on the day of the reunion, Daddy found himself with a pair of new pants that had become 30 cm shorter. And he decided to wear it to the reunion. When his old friends asked him, he said, well, I have such a loving family and told them the story of how his pants was altered.

If we were caught in such a situation, how would we have reacted. Possibly not as calmly nor with such good humour. For most of us, we are more likely to have better EQ outside of our family than with our family members. Familiarity breeds contempt?

This article came from sharing sessions at Crocodile where the staff meets weekly and the members take turn to share an inspirational story each week. Cool yah?